Swails inducted into Shine Academy
Jennifer Swails, MD, associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, has been inducted as a member of the 2024 class of The University of Texas Kenneth I. Shine, MD, Academy of Health Science Education.
The award is presented to faculty in recognition of their teaching excellence and commitment to enhancing health science education.
The honor is bestowed yearly on select faculty members from UT System’s six health institutions. Swails was formally inducted with a ceremony on Feb. 22-23 in Austin.
Jennifer Swails, MD
Currently serving as the program director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program at McGovern Medical School, Swails is also co-director of Interprofessional Education at UTHealth Houston and an associate professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine. She joined the faculty in 2012.
Swails served as a member of the Association of American Medical Colleges Core Entrustable Professional Activities pilot and the Coalition of Physician Accountability Undergraduate Medical Education-Graduate Medical Education (UME-GME) Review Committee. Swails has received grants from UT System, SHINE Foundation, and Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation for interprofessional education.
“Dr. Swails has made impressive contributions to the education of our students and residents through direct teaching, mentoring, and the development of innovative educational initiatives,” said Philip Orlander, MD, associate dean for Educational Programs, the Edward Randall, III Chair in Internal Medicine, and professor and vice chair of Internal Medicine at McGovern Medical School. “The breadth and depth of her impact is wide reaching and includes interprofessional activities that involves more than 1,000 students yearly from all of the schools at UTHealth Houston, being the director of the largest residency program in the institution with more than 150 residents, as well as being at the forefront nationally in decisions related to the transition of students into residency and the impact of USMLE scoring on students and residency programs.”
Throughout her tenure, Swails has won multiple teaching awards, including the John P. McGovern Award, the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award, and the Herbert L. and Margaret W. DuPont Clinical Teaching Award. She is one of the 16 inaugural members of the Champions of Learning Environment at McGovern Medical School.
“Dr. Swails is a very gifted educator with an aptitude for creating effective learning environments and inspiring learners to challenge themselves,” said Rachel Jantea, MD, MS, assistant professor of medicine in the Joan and Stanford Alexander Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine at McGovern Medical School. “She is an admirable leader with incredible skill and effectiveness in executing and growing educational programs to reach their fullest potential. She is an innovator who inspires her colleagues and has transformative ideas that make all of our educational initiatives better.”
Her work focuses on promoting teamwork across the medical education spectrum to improve wellness and patient care.
The University of Texas Academy of Health Science Education was founded in 2005 and was renamed in honor of former UT System Executive Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs Kenneth I. Shine, MD, when he retired. Members of the Shine Academy are recognized as outstanding scholars and leaders in education from across all the system’s science institutions.
The Shine Academy fosters excellence in education in the health sciences by recognizing outstanding educators and advancement of knowledge and innovation in the field of education.